Moldovan reintegration policies bureau makes specifications on import of medicines to Transnistrian region by economic agents registered at Public Services Agency

Chisinau, 26 March /MOLDPRES/ - Chisinau reacts quickly, with derogation of the legal terms of authorization of the import of medication to Moldova for the economic agents registered at the Public Services Agency (ASP) with the headquarters in the Transnistrian region, in order not to endanger the health and lives of its citizens who live in the Transnistrian region, reads a press release of the Reintegration Policies Bureau.      

Thus, on 18 March, at a request by two economic agents registered in Moldova, the authorization and import, on 20 March, of two consignments of medicines were processed in a sped up procedure through two crossing points and in authorized customs checkpoints, two days after the reception of the Transnistrian side’s demarche.    

It is worth mentioning that, under the national legislation in force, the Medicine and Medical Devices Agency (AMED) is obliged to ensure the medicines’ efficiency and inoffensiveness. 

On 24 March, the authorizations of medicines were issued for two economic agents registered at the ASP public institution, for another goods consignments of medication, which were to be imported to the territory of Moldova’s eastern districts in five vehicles. Taking into account that the overall volume of the medicines was to be brought to the Transnistrian region by three economic agents in five common transport units and one of them submitted the applications to AMED for consideration as late as on 24 March, the specialty commission did not have possibility either to hold meeting or to issue authorizations for one of the aforementioned economic operators, for which reason we deny that Chisinau obstructs the work of the economic agents.   

The accelerated procedure, on the period of the state of emergency, agreed upon with AMED, for examining the requests of the economic agents operating in the Transnistrian region, on condition that the goods remain on the concerned territory, is from 3 to 5 working days, depending on the demanded volume of goods, as well as with the preliminary transmission of the needed documentation to AMED by three working days.   

On 23 and 25 March, respectively, the Transnistrian side asked for the authorization of the import of another two batches of medicines, with decisions on them due to be taken at an AMED extraordinary meeting, planned for 26-27 March.  

Based on demarches by the Transnistrian side, the Reintegration Policies Bureau  submits interpellations to the competent authorities, Health, Labour and Social Protection Ministry, Medicine and Medical Devices Agency and Customs Service, for the operative authorization and ensuring of the access of the residents from the left bank of Dniester to medication.    

In the context, Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration Cristina Lesnic called on the Transnistrian side not to politicize this situation and to inform the interested economic agents about the clear-cut procedures.  

We remind that economic agents from the left bank of Dniester have earlier been importing the necessary products directly from Ukraine; yet, once the state of emergency declared, Ukraine closed all border crossing points with Moldova on the central segment. Thus, the import meant for the Transnistrian region can be made only through the customs offices authorized by Moldova’s Customs Service.   

In conclusion, we remind to the economic agents registered at the Public Services Agency which provide the import of medicines to the Transnistrian region that they are offered a clear and accelerated procedure as to the import of medication meant for the eastern districts and in the spirit of the decisions by the Commission for Emergency Situations:  

a) The import is carried out through the border checkpoints opened and at the authorized customs checkpoints of Moldova.

b) To receive authorizations from AMED, economic agents interested submit, preliminarily, the needed documents and the form by at least three days before the intention to reach the border crossing point.

c)  AMED’s extraordinary specialty commission holds meetings in a period of 3-5 days for consideration and issuance of authorizations.

d)  AMED will present the authorizations in original to the Customs Service and economic agents are to receive the authorizations’ copies.  

e)  The Customs Service will provide the needed procedures for the import of medicines.